Universal Endless Summer Resort - Surfside and Dockside Inn & Suites

[Parkscope Joe]

Dockside is definitely the nicer of the Endless Summer resorts. The lobby is quite nice for a value resort.

Still waiting for photos of the Sunset Lounge which has all those taps.

 

[UNIrd]

Trying to decide if my desire to stay in all of Universal's resorts at least once is stronger than my desire to be in close proximity to Strongwater Tavern & Drhum Club Kantine. Sapphire Falls - Standard Room & Dockside - 2 Bedroom are going for the same price in April.

 

[Disneyhead]

Trying to decide if my desire to stay in all of Universal's resorts at least once is stronger than my desire to be in close proximity to Strongwater Tavern & Drhum Club Kantine. Sapphire Falls - Standard Room & Dockside - 2 Bedroom are going for the same price in April.

How many people are travelling with you?

 

[UNIrd]

How many people are travelling with you?

0. lol But I stayed at Surfside's 2 Bedroom last year and loved the layout.

 

[Disneyhead]

0. lol But I stayed at Surfside's 2 Bedroom last year and loved the layout.

That's a lot of room for one person.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I got a free upgrade from the one room to a two-bedroom for myself. It was sorta nuts.

 

[bob albert]

I expect true slow seasons to be a thing of the past soon as they open the hotels. My hope is that uni staffs the parks for high capacity instead of cheaping out to squeeze guests like disney does.

 

[Disneyhead]

'Luke, come to the Dockside.'

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Dockside will be the nicest "Value" resort in all of Orlando. The lobby area is legitimately beautiful. The lobby bar has a very nice seating area. There is also a full blown Starbucks with cold brewed coffee on tap. This place truly embarrasses the Disney "Value" resorts.

 

[Scott W.]

'Luke, come to the Dockside.'

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Dockside will be the nicest "Value" resort in all of Orlando. The lobby area is legitimately beautiful. The lobby bar has a very nice seating area. There is also a full blown Starbucks with cold brewed coffee on tap. This place truly embarrasses the Disney "Value" resorts.

I think this is a safe assumption. I’m digging the vibe of Dockside far more than Surfside.

 

[Nick]

'Luke, come to the Dockside.'

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Dockside will be the nicest "Value" resort in all of Orlando. The lobby area is legitimately beautiful. The lobby bar has a very nice seating area. There is also a full blown Starbucks with cold brewed coffee on tap. This place truly embarrasses the Disney "Value" resorts.

I think Disney needs to close their values one by one and do complete remodels. Rethink the room layouts and remove the garish, oversized theming. Make it more simplified Disney. They won't do that though because people still pay the insane prices to stay at their motels.

That's the key phrasing - Disney is running motels while Universal's values are hotel style and are much nicer in-room and hand over fist better in terms of amenities.

 

[Skipper Justin]

I think Disney needs to close their values one by one and do complete remodels. Rethink the room layouts and remove the garish, oversized theming. Make it more simplified Disney. They won't do that though because people still pay the insane prices to stay at their motels.

That's the key phrasing - Disney is running motels while Universal's values are hotel style and are much nicer in-room and hand over fist better in terms of amenities.

I will say I mostly agree. I do like the renovated rooms at Pop. Made me realize how small the room was though.

 

[GadgetGuru]

I think Disney needs to close their values one by one and do complete remodels. Rethink the room layouts and remove the garish, oversized theming. Make it more simplified Disney. They won't do that though because people still pay the insane prices to stay at their motels.

That's the key phrasing - Disney is running motels while Universal's values are hotel style and are much nicer in-room and hand over fist better in terms of amenities.

I agree with everything about the oversized theming.

Disney (and Universal) have been making their hotels more generic, which is really sad. Both sides of Endless Summer are practically unthemed when compared to a Portofino or Cabana Bay.

I don't really want Disney to end up building "Disney's All Star Holiday Inn." The oversized theming has charm to it and it definitely makes the hotel feel more Disney-centric. Even if it's screaming Disney at you.

 

[Nick]

I agree with everything about the oversized theming.

Disney (and Universal) have been making their hotels more generic, which is really sad. Both sides of Endless Summer are practically unthemed when compared to a Portofino or Cabana Bay.

I don't really want Disney to end up building "Disney's All Star Holiday Inn." The oversized theming has charm to it and it definitely makes the hotel feel more Disney-centric. Even if it's screaming Disney at you.

I get that. There's a middle ground between generic and tacky though and I think Disney should be able to find that even by removing a lot of the stuff, they could still keep a resort heavily themed to Disney.

 

[Scott W.]

I will say I mostly agree. I do like the renovated rooms at Pop. Made me realize how small the room was though.

The new rooms at Pop are great, a huge improvement over what was there before and the same style is being brought into the all stars resorts as well.

 

[Mad Dog]

The new rooms at Pop are great, a huge improvement over what was there before and the same style is being brought into the all stars resorts as well.

the outside though, is soooooo over the top 'ugly' :yuck:.....better to go in the direction of Art of Animation, heavy theming but more tasteful.

 

[Disneyhead]

And Dockside has there own specialty brew on tap.

 

[Mad Dog]

And Dockside has there own specialty brew on tap.

guessing you were the first to test it.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think Disney needs to close their values one by one and do complete remodels. Rethink the room layouts and remove the garish, oversized theming. Make it more simplified Disney. They won't do that though because people still pay the insane prices to stay at their motels.

That's the key phrasing - Disney is running motels while Universal's values are hotel style and are much nicer in-room and hand over fist better in terms of amenities.

I think this wouldn't be as hard as it seems. If they close down one of the All Stars and build a tower or two they could replace a lot of the buildings at once. Consolidating space plus making everything closer to the pool/cafeteria would be great.

 

[HandsomePete]

Regarding the All-Star comparisons, keep in mind you're literally comparing this:

to this:

 

[UNIrd]

I love the renovations they've done at Disney's Values. The rooms look great, the beds are comfy, the efficiency of the space with the pulldown bed.

While yes, Disney's Value theming is super garish on the outside, Dockside and Surfside's grounds have zero charm. Like none. Very sterile all around. (Judging by a stay at Surfside and pics of Dockside...)